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Channel: BL, foot greater yáng (tài yáng) bladder channel

Modern location: An acupoint located on the posterior aspect of the head, in a depression level with the superior border of the external occipital protuberance (eop), 1.3 cùn lateral to the midline.

Classical location: One cùn and five fēn behind Declining Connection (BL-8), one cùn and three fēn to each side of Brain’s Door (GV-17). From The Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (针灸大成 zhēn jiǔ dà chéng)

Local anatomy: The occipital artery and vein.

Action: Dispels wind and quickens the network vessels; frees the orifices and brightens the eyes.

Modern indications: Headache and painful nape; eye pain; nasal congestion.

Classical indications: Insufferable wind headache; dizziness and heavy-headedness; upward staring eyes; blurred vision; pain and red eyes; nasal congestion and painful pharynx; stiff nape; aversion to cold and absence of sweating in febrile disease.

Needle stimulus: Needling: 0.3‒0.5 cùn downward transverse insertion. Moxa: pole 5‒15 min.

Point name meaning:

• 玉 yù: jade
• 枕 zhěn: pillow

The occipital bone is called 枕骨 (zhěn gǔ), literally pillow bone, the name given to BL-9 in Sù Wèn. An obsolete synonym was 玉枕骨 (yù zhěn gǔ), jade pillow bone, the word jade being added for aesthetic reasons or to emphasize the bone’s importance. The name can be seen to derive from its location on the occipital protuberance. See acupoint names: origins, meanings, and translations.

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